Department Chair

Andrew D. Nicholls, Ph.D., Chair and Professor of History

Date of Award

12-2013

Access Control

Open Access

Degree Name

Museum Studies, M.A.

Department

History and Social Studies Education Department

Advisor

Cynthia A. Conides, Ph.D, Associate Professor History and Social Studies Education and Director of Museum Studies

Department Home page

http://history.buffalostate.edu/museum-studies-ma

First Reader

Cynthia A. Conides, Ph.D, Associate Professor History and Social Studies Education and Director of Museum Studies

Second Reader

Dan DiLandro, College Archivist and Adjunct Professor

Abstract

This paper will discuss the budgeting and preservation problems that are prevalent in institutions specializing in historical collections. The sizes of the institutions that will be reviewed include small and medium-sized specialized museums along with local and regional historical societies, based on research and a survey sent to these kinds of institutions. Three types of artifacts that are commonly found in these institutions – paper, photographs, and textiles- will be examined to get a clear understanding of their preservation problems and needs. This is followed by reviews of proper storage techniques for artifacts and descriptions where the institutions can acquire the preservation materials. Survey results are presented on how institutions are using them.

This thesis also reviews ways in which institutions may develop their budget and procure the funds needed to acquire the necessary materials to preserve their artifacts and their buildings. This section includes information gathered from the survey which the different institutions found ways to acquire extra funding, along with the ways they use their funding. Finally, I examine real-life examples of how libraries, archives, and museums preserve their material with modern-day technology despite limited money and time.

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